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In the Declaration of Independence, it states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

In the 14th amendment it states: “nor shall any State deprive any person of life . . . nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Unfortunately on January 22, 1973, our United States Supreme Court in two decisions, Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton, denied this right to unborn children, and our country has paid a heavy price with close to 50 million unborn children killed in 37 years because of these two Supreme Court decisions.

Clearly these decisions violate our Founding Fathers’ intent with their declaration of “unalienable rights as endowed by their Creator” and denying personhood to our unborn brothers and sisters.

As Catholics we know that abortion is a violation of the fifth commandment of “Thou Shall Not Kill.”

We know that Jesus was “conceived” in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit and as such the womb is a sacred place where life should be protected and loved throughout the nine months of pregnancy.

We know that Jesus scolded his disciples when they attempted to prevent children from coming to him. “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

How will Jesus judge those who participate in the killing of unborn children through abortion and embryonic stem-cell research?

Politicians who support abortion are not adhering to the intent of our founders and those politicians who claim to be Catholic and also support abortion rights are clearly in denial in regards to what Jesus and the Church teach regarding human life from conception until natural death.

Yes, we must “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21). Both the Founding Fathers of our country and the Catholic Church know the source for our “right to life”: it comes from God and not from man.

Our government, whether the executive, judicial, or legislative branch, has a duty and serious obligation to recognize that right. As the late great Pope John Paul II has said: “No human authority has the right to destroy unborn human life.”